Trelleborg Limits PAH Use Ahead of REACH Deadline

Trelleborg Wheel Systems has opted to use extender oils that comply with limits on Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) ahead of the January 2010 deadline. According to the company, the new extender oils will maintain “the excellent overall performance of Trelleborg tyres” while respecting the environment. European Directive EC/2005/69 and REACH Regulation EC/1907/2006 impose restrictions in the use of polyaromatic hydrocarbons in extender oils and tyres. Ahead of these regulations coming into force, Trelleborg says its entire range of agricultural, forestry and industrial tyres will now comply.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) are traditionally ingredients of extender oils that are used as plasticizers and compound viscosity reducers in the manufacturing of tyres. EU Directive 76/769/EEC places restrictions on the marketing and use of certain dangerous substances and preparations and has been amended on several occasions since it was first approved in 1976. The 27th amendment makes reference to PAH and was published as a separate directive, EU Directive 2005/69/EC, to highlight the restriction in the use of PAH in extender oils and tyres.

The directive states that tyres and treads for retreading manufactured after 1 January 2010 may not be placed on the market if they contain extender oils exceeding more than 1 mg/kg BaP, or more than 10 mg/kg of the sum of all listed PAHs. These limits are regarded as kept, if the polycyclic aromatics (PCA) extract is less than three per cent by mass.

This restriction in the use of certain dangerous substances is specifically mentioned in the REACH Regulation (EC/1907/2006, Annex XVII) which has been amended by the Regulation EC/552/2009 (amending Regulation (EC) No 1907/2006 of the European Parliament and of the Council on the Registration, Evaluation, Authorisation and Restriction of Chemicals (REACH) as regards Annex XVII).